City of Henderson on Sports Roll with Golden Knights Ice Center

By ALAN SNEL

LVSportsBiz.com

 

After the poor city of Henderson was taken for a ride by “stadium developer” Chris Milam seven years ago, the Second City’s elected leaders couldn’t say yes fast enough to the Raiders’ plan to build their NFL team headquarters near the Henderson Executive Airport.

 

And after the Raiders and Henderson celebrated the HQ/training center groundbreaking Jan. 14, Henderson city officials were again in a giddy mood Tuesday evening when they approved a proposal by the Vegas Golden Knights to use the Henderson Convention Center site at Water Street and Atlantic Avenue for a community two-rink ice center much like the City National Arena facility in Summerlin.

 

There was not mystery to the fate of the city council’s unanimous approval for the three-acre ice rink project. The Summerlin training center for the Golden Knights cost about $30 million to build and it was privately financed by VGK owner Bill Foley.

 

The Golden Knights training center, which is off South Pavilion Center Drive near Red Rock Resort and the Downtown Summerlin shopping center, has served as a community center that attracts regional and national hockey tournaments, public open skating sessions and locals to the MacKenzie River pizza pub that is situated on a second level between the two ice rinks.

 

The Golden Knights’ extended presence into Henderson is part of an overall business game plan to build a hockey fan base from the youngest generation up. Expect youth hockey leagues and skating sessions at the Henderson facility when it opens in 2020.

 

VGK Prez Kerry Bubolz was at the council meeting to address Henderson’s governing body.

 

And the good news for Henderson is infamous Texas developer Chris Milam is nowhere in sight.

 

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